BaltSeaPlan

The € 3,7 m project BaltSeaPlan (2009-2012) accompanied the EU Maritime Policy by supporting the introduction of Integrated Maritime Spatial Planning and preparation of National Maritime Strategies within Baltic Sea Region. It also contributed to the implementation of the HELCOM recommendation on broad-scale Maritime Spatial Planning and the VASAB Gdańsk Declaration.

Background

The Baltic Sea is a unique inland sea: It is a dynamic economic area and at the same time characterised by special geographical and environmental conditions. The different sea uses such as shipping, fishery, wind farms or mineral extraction are increasingly competing for the limited sea space. On top of this the fragile Baltic ecosystem and the threats of climate change call for a balanced multi-sectoral approach. A wise, pro-active maritime spatial planning (MSP) could not avoid conflicts, but also create synergies and thus lay the basis for a sustainable maritime development. So far, however, there is only little practical experience regarding spatial planning on the sea. This is the challenge but also the chance for the BaltSeaPlan project, which aims to create the basis for developing, introducing and implementing maritime spatial planning throughout the Baltic Sea in a coherent manner.